Teaching nursing by interactive television: Interaction and evaluation

The purpose of this study was to investigate some aspects of interaction that took place in a nursing course delivered simultaneously to three campuses by interactive television. Student perceptions about the experience, student achievement, teacher and course evaluations, and student learning style were examined for possible relationships. Comparisons among the three campuses were made. When teaching takes place by television, teacher-student interaction changes both for students who receive classes by television and for those who are with the teacher in the originating classroom. It is important to understand what these changes are, how students perceive them, and how the changes may affect the learning process. Senior students in a baccalaureate nursing management course were the sample in this comparative descriptive study. The sample included three groups: 17 students in an on-campus classroom and two TV classrooms with 20 and 24 students. Direct observation of classroom interaction took place; other variables were measured by questionnaire. Students in the classroom with the teacher spoke three times more frequently than students in either of the television classrooms. Students in all classes expressed discomfort about using microphones. In the two TV classrooms, students spoke among themselves considerably more than students in the on-campus classroom. Concerns about interaction were expressed by many students in all classrooms, who indicated that they felt less involved than in a traditional class and felt they could not learn as well. Students were disturbed by technical and organizational problems that occurred during class. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no significant difference on examination scores among the three groups. Student learning style preferences were identified by the Kolb inventory; ANOVA indicated that students who preferred involvement with people achieved significantly lower scores than did students who were more task oriented. Discussion of findings includes emphasis on the need for resources to support careful planning for television delivery and suggestions that may enhance interaction in television courses